Clasado Biosciences announces that the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has given a positive opinion on the extension of use of galactooligosaccharises (GOS) as a novel food in food for special medical purposes (‘FSMP’) in the EU in collaboration with partner GLNP Life Sciences BV (‘GNLP’), a specialist FSMP producer in Europe.
The opinion, ‘Safety of the extension of use of galactooligosaccharides (GOS) as a novel food in food for special medical purposes pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283’, was published on 30 March 2022. Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA reviewed the safety of prebiotic GOS (in this case Clasado Biosciences’ Bimuno GOS) as a novel food with the intention of use in FSMP applications.
Acknowledgement from EFSA paves the way for prebiotic GOS to be used in FSMPs intended for the dietary management of impaired gastrointestinal issues in hospitalised patients.
Per Rehné, CEO of Clasado Biosciences, said: “Exploring the potential of Bimuno GOS in the FSMP category presents an exciting opportunity for us, and as the most comprehensively studied prebiotic GOS in the market, it’s a logical development. Bimuno is already building a very strong name for itself in the global health supplement and functional food market as consumers around the world look to the importance of rebalancing their gut microbiome due to various causes of dysbiosis backed by credible scientific and clinical evidence. When we consider that our gut bacteria are connected with areas such as digestive health, immunity and cognition, it’s no surprise that prebiotics are coming into focus.
The opinion published in the EFSA Journal centres around indirectly tackling malnutrition in hospitalised patients where gut microbiome dysbiosis is a common factor; fibre content is key and as a prebiotic substrate.
Gijs Roozendaal, General Manager at GLNP Food Sciences, said: “Using prebiotics within the FSMP category represents an exciting opportunity where prebiotics can potentially play a key role within the European market. Working with a leading prebiotic ingredient developer like Clasado, that focuses on strong scientific backing, is an essential step in accelerating our understanding of gut-mediated health, and crucially, turning that knowledge into action and solutions that make a difference.”
Bimuno GOS is supported with more than 20 clinical trials. The ingredient is designed to nourish bifidobacteria, a bacteria in the gut microbiome connected with key areas of physical and mental health.
